Minerals are all naturally occurring solid substances with a definable chemical composition.They must also possess ________.
A)an ability to be synthesized in the laboratory as well as be found in nature
B)metallic elements,such as iron,calcium,or magnesium
C)metallic luster
D)a fixed crystalline structure (spatial arrangement of atoms and ions)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The option stating that minerals must possess a fixed crystalline structure (spatial arrangement of atoms and ions) is the correct one. This is one of the defining characteristics of minerals and is linked to their chemical composition. The other options are incorrect because minerals do not have to contain only metallic elements, nor do they have to exhibit metallic luster. Additionally, while many minerals can be found in nature and cannot be synthesized in the laboratory, this is not necessarily a requirement for a substance to be considered a mineral.

Minerals Are All Naturally Occurring Solid Substances with a Definable